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The second India-China strategic economic dialogue held last week came at a time when the two countries need to address a range of bilateral economic issues. Revisiting bilateral economic relations is important for changing the global rules of economic engagement. For years, India and China have been involved in re-shaping the global economic architecture to make the functioning of the multilateral institutions in the areas of trade and finance democratic. India and China are also coordinating their positions in critical negotiations on climate change that are taking place in Doha.
Bilateral economic relations between India and China have gone through interesting phases in the past decade. Towards the middle of the previous decade, the two governments were in active consultations for commencing negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA). These preparations went astray as the Indian government faced opposition from major industry associations. These associations were apprehensive about their ability to stand up to competition from the relatively cheap Chinese products and, were therefore, unwilling to allow lowering of tariffs through an FTA. Another reflection of the unease of Indian businesses with imports from China is the large number of anti-dumping complaints that have registered against Chinese firms.
Policymakers may have failed to bring the two economies together in a closer relationship through a FTA, but the market had worked out its own plan. Rapid expansion of trade since the beginning of the previous decade indicates this clearly. In 2001-02, India-China trade was just less than $3 billion. This increased to $75.6 billion in the last fiscal, registering a 25-fold increase. More significantly, China has emerged as India’s largest trade partner since 2009. Currently, India-China trade accounts for nearly 12% of India’s total trade.
The spurt in trade volumes took place on the back of India’s rapidly increasing imports from China. From a tad above $2 billion in 2001-02, India’s imports from China increased to over $57.5 billion by 2011-12—a 28-fold increase. In contrast, India has not been able to penetrate Chinese markets very well; its exports have lagged its imports from China by a considerable margin, thus giving rise to the spectre of unbalanced trade. The high trade deficit that India faces indicates this clearly. In 2011-12, the deficit exceeded $39 billion and was more than twice the level of India’s exports to China. It is not just the absolute trade deficit that should worry India, but the rate at which it has increased. In the last fiscal, the level of trade deficit was twice as high as that recorded two years back.
Besides the trade imbalance, the commodity composition is also skewed against India. In 2011-12, raw materials and intermediate products made up for more than 90% of India’s exports to China. In other words, India was feeding the factory of the world that China is. But one noticeable change that has occurred in the past three years is that while in 2008, raw materials were nearly 80% of India’s exports to China, in the previous year, the share of raw materials had declined while those of intermediate products has increased to nearly 34%. This probably indicated that component manufacturers from India are getting involved in the production networks spawned by Chinese enterprises.
In contrast, raw materials and intermediates were less than 40% of India’s total imports from China. The share of these products was as high as 70% in the beginning of the previous decade, but has declined rapidly as China implemented a policy to restrict exports of raw materials.
India has thus got into a division of labour with its neighbour wherein it exports low value-added products and imports high value-added and technologically sophisticated products. Perhaps the only cause of comfort for India could be that China has developed this trade pattern with most of its major trading partners, including Brazil and South Africa.
Where, then, are Sino-Indian economic relations headed and what contribution can the strategic economic dialogue make in this process? Trade relations, the most visible sign of economic engagement between the two nations, need a close look, particularly the yawning trade deficit that India faces. While it is no one’s case that the trade should be balanced, the magnitude of imbalance could introduce undesirable strains in bilateral relations. Importantly, this is also the view of several commentators in China.
Even a casual look at the developments in the Chinese economy shows there are opportunities for India. After 2008, policymakers in China have realized that their growth model, based substantially on exports, cannot be sustained. Rapid growth has also pushed up wages. These will, undoubtedly, erode China’s export competitiveness. This could result in a relocation of production bases away from China. India with a diversified production base is best placed to take advantage of this development. It must prepare to make the most of this coming change.
Biswajit Dhar is director general at Research and Information System for Developing Countries, New Delhi.


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The Alsco facility at San Diego, California, is the latest to have earned Textile Rental Services Association’s Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification. The certification reflects its commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by TRSA inspection and its capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing.
Alsco passed three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes are producing Hygienically Clean Healthcare linens and garments and zero presence of harmful bacteria.
To maintain their certification, laundry plants must pass quarterly testing to ensure that as laundry conditions change, such as water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry, laundered product quality is consistently maintained.“Congratulations to Alsco on their certification,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “This achievement proves their dedication to building their customers’ confidence that their laundry takes every step possible to prevent human illness.”

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The Cost of Data, Stress and Retailers in 2014
Last year ended with the second biggest retail data breach in history thus far, and it is a cautionary tale about the true cost and economic impact that merchants of any size can afford. According to Reuters, the theft of credit and debit card data from 40 million Target customers may end up costing hundreds of millions of dollars, which is all tied to litigation, customer notifications, card replacements, sorting bad charges from legitimate charges, and fixing bad charges.
On top of that, Target offered customers a 10 percent discount for shopping over a busy holiday weekend, and for those customers whose cards were compromised. It also offered credit monitoring, in an effort to address customer concerns.
In breaches like these, credit card companies such as MasterCard and Visa can hit retailers with additional fees, penalties and charges for forensic investigation costs if a problem is determined to be in the retailer’s systems. While the costs of lawsuits and card replacements hold a significant dollar value, repairing Target’s corporate reputation is a cost not too easily measured in dollars and cents.
The industry has received another wake-up call. Data compromises can wreak economic havoc upon large and small retailers.
One key take away from the Target situation is that customers and payment processing companies will be placing much more pressure on retailers to ensure the security of sensitive data. This year we will see several changes within the industry as retailers adapt to the ever-evolving threat landscape.
1. IT departments will balance between security and the inevitable threat
Organizations will begin to balance their investments in security against the realities of what the business can afford. Target, like many others, is a big box brick-and-mortar retail organization that operates on thin margins, and as recent reports from Reuters suggests could incur up to $680 million in unplanned costs dealing with the breach.
Consumers may assume the at big brand name stores have the proper defense systems in place to keep their information secure. Merchants must comply with PCI standards and the anti-fraud requirements imposed by the card companies. However, financial pressure may limit their ability to fund the tools and to maintain the network security staff expertise needed to protect sensitive account data. So, they accept a certain amount of risk, and hope their security tools provide at least a compliant level of coverage. Imagine the dilemma of smaller retailers who have even less money to invest in data security.
Retailers need the highest levels of affordable security because operating margins do not allow them to throw an unlimited amount of money at IT security. Companies cannot justify continuously escalating their investment in security hardware, software and resources at a time when sales revenues and profits are flat or growing slowly. Retailers will focus on making intelligent decisions that enable them to get the maximum value possible out of the tools they can afford.
From purchasing behavior to payment card to loyalty program information, retailers have massive amounts of data for which they are responsible for managing and properly securing 24/7. As IT departments come under increasing pressure to find the perfect balance between investing and security, tools that can process large volumes of data for less money will win out.
2. Retailers will invest more heavily in real-time network monitoring tools
Recent high profile breaches have one key thing in common: the time lapse between the occurrence of the breach and the discovery of the breach. In the case of the Target breach, it took more than three weeks for the company to identify and disclose the compromise. Others have gone undetected for many months.
In today’s world, threats are evolving faster than ever before. Access logs, virus signatures and intrusion detection alerts are simply insufficient to secure sensitive account data. Retailers are beginning to revise their network infrastructure policies and procedures to help close that security gap, and a large part of this involves investing in tools and technologies that monitor networks in real-time.
It is no longer acceptable for organizations to experience a data breach that goes undetected for months. A new class of real-time monitoring tools will allow organizations to gain nearly immediate visibility to possible threats, compared older security solutions that get answers too late and too slow. These tools of the future will help retailers build a proactive cyber defense posture around their data assets.
3. Retailers will revise their budgets and add lower cost real-time tools to minimize risk of costly data compromise
Consumers may feel “safe” from credit card fraud, since the law and card company policies limit the cost impact to cardholders. However, inside the industry it is no secret that the retailer may bear the full expense of data breaches. If sensitive account data is handled improperly or network security practices fall below standards, the card companies can hold the retailer liable for the costs.
Contributed by Dr. Vincent Berk, co-founder and CEO of network security firm Flow Traq. Photo Credit: FlowTraq.com with permission to use.
One thing is certain. This year retailers will reassess their network, systems and data handling practices. They must deploy fast, affordable network security solutions under tight budget and resource constraints.


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New funding positions Aviron to meet rapidly growing demand for gamified, interactive exercise experiences in competitive connected fitness market
TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Today, Aviron, the experience-driven connected rowing machine built on an advanced gaming platform, announced they've raised $4.5M from Samsung Next, Formic Ventures, GFC, Y Combinator and others to fuel the growth of the company and power the future of connected fitness. Aviron combines the increased confidence, problem solving, and resiliency benefits of gaming with non-impact, high intensity interval training (HIIT) for an engaging, calorie-torching rowing workout that taps into users' competitive side. Aviron boasts unmatched program variety with hundreds of workout options including games and peer-to-peer live racing modules that torch more calories than swimming or running alone.
As the pandemic has fueled the explosion of the $150B gaming and $100B fitness market, the industry has seen an influx of connected fitness devices, however, to-date, none have focused on true fitness gaming.
"I founded Aviron to combat the monotonous exercise machines I saw at the gym, and provide users with a more engaging experience that leverages positive gaming psychology for increased cognitive and physical strength," said Aviron CEO and Founder Andy Hoang. "I'm very excited that this funding will allow us to continue to grow the company and keep up with the boom in demand for the product and continue to deliver exciting, enjoyable workout experiences to users."
"Covid-19 has accelerated consumer adoption of experiences that blur the digital and physical worlds faster than we anticipated," said Antonio Key, investor, Samsung Next. "The sharp rise in the popularity of at-home fitness puts Aviron at the forefront of a market for those who prefer self-directed, competitive, high-intensity interval (HIIT) training. We are thrilled to play a part in Aviron's journey to be the world's leading connected fitness entertainment platform."
With Peloton and others announcing the gamification of their devices, Aviron is uniquely positioned with not only a top-of-the-line hardware rowing machine, but also the software to provide excellent gaming experiences that go beyond just adding points to a workout. Aviron's software is built on a gaming engine by a team of ex-Unity game developers, making them a fundamentally gaming-first platform. The interface features high quality visuals, music, and peer-to-peer racing modules through the interactive screen, allowing users an unrivaled "choose-your-own-adventure" workout experience.
"Coming from the gaming industry, I've seen the power of gamification to motivate people and bring them into sports", said Michale Antonov, Founder of Formic Ventures and co-founder of Oculus. "I am happy to support Aviron in their mission of making fitness more engaging, inspiring us to exercise and lead healthier lives."
Aviron launched in 2018 to the commercial market, establishing themselves in gyms, multi-family housing and hotels worldwide including YMCAs and Gold's Gyms locations in the US, before launching to the consumer market in mid 2020. The company has seen remarkable growth for a seed stage company, surpassing 2020 revenue in the first quarter of 2021 and doubling their user base in the same period.
Aviron is available throughout North America and is expanding internationally. For more details about Aviron visit AvironActive.com.
Aviron is a connected rowing machine built on an advanced gaming platform. It provides a full body, HIIT and strength training workout, torching more calories than swimming or running alone, while also engaging users mentally with games, competitions, guided programs and scenic rows. Aviron leverages high quality visuals, and gaming psychology worked into the interactive screen, providing users a "choose-your-own-adventure" workout experience that keeps them coming back again and again to win the game and achieve their fitness goals. Founded in 2018, Aviron is backed by Samsung Next, Formic Ventures, GFC, Y-Combinator, Bloom Venture Partners, Pioneer Fund, Atlas Asset Management, Behind Genius Ventures, Beluga Capital, Esas Ventures, and Rebel Fund, is available throughout North America and is expanding internationally. For more information, visit avironactive.com.
SOURCE Aviron Interactive


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Nielsen just released their report on the U.S. smartphone market for the month of October, and boy are the results interesting. Of all of the cell phone owners in America, 29.7 percent of them are carrying a smartphone with them. That 29.7 percent is then broken down into the various smartphone platforms, with Apple's iOS barely edging out RIM to be the most popular platform, with 27.9 percent and 27.4 percent of the market, respectively. Not far behind those two is Android, claiming 22.7 percent of users, while Windows Mobile has 14 percent, Symbian has 3.4 percent, Linux has 3.3 percent, and webOS in last place with 1.3 percent.
That information is all well and good, but what about future device purchases? Well, when it comes to current smartphone owners, iOS is the most desired, with 35 percent of smartphone users claiming that they'd like an iPhone when it comes time to upgrade. Android is desired just about as much, though, with 28 percent of users fawning after Google's green robot. Fifteen percent of those surveyed want a BlackBerry next, and 13 percent just weren't sure what their next smartphone would be. When featurephone owners were asked which smartphone they'd be likely to buy, the results were largely the same, although Android edged out iOS with 28 percent and 25 percent, respectively. RIM finished in third once again, this time with 11 percent, while a full 25 percent of featurephone users were unsure where their smartphone allegiances would lie.
We've been seeing similar results for some time now, with the once-dominant RIM slowly losing share to iOS and Android. Still, I'm surprised to see that the BlackBerry has been dethroned as the top smartphone, although it wasn't beat out by much. With Android's continued growth and the possibility of an iPhone on Verizon looming, it'll be interesting to see where these numbers stand a year from now. Will the iPhone, boosted by a swarm of iOS-hungry Verizon customers, remain on top? Will a multitude of devices and updates propel Android to the No. 1 spot? Or will the PlayBook and QNX operating system help RIM regain it's former glory? It's tough to say. For all we know, Windows Phone 7 or webOS could come out on top. What do you all think the standings will look like in a year?


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England-based audio brand Bowers & Wilkins is offering audiophiles another ride on its Zeppelin, but this time, there’s a new friend on-board. The Zeppelin speaker that was announced on Wednesday marks the first new addition to the series since 2015. It’s flying into the new age by integrating Amazon Alexa and some newer technologies for reducing wireless latency.
Bowers & Wilkins’ Formation series of wireless speakers got Alexa in 2020, but this is the first time the smart assistant gets a ticket for the Zeppelin. For those who would prefer not to speak to Alexa, the speaker has physical buttons, too.
The latest Zeppelin continues the series’ flight toward going completely wireless. Bowers & Wilkins’ original Zeppelin in 2007 was an iPod dock, while the 2011 Zeppelin Air still had a dock but added Apple Airplay. In 2015, the Zeppelin Wireless dropped the dock but offered a 3.5 mm connection. Today’s Zeppelin has no wired option, except for a USB-C port that’s for service only.
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Telguard, a division of Telular Corporation, announced the ability to deliver alarm signals from Telguard’s communication center to central stations, using the Internet Protocol (IP) alarm format, FIBRO, to Sur-Gard’s IP alarm receivers.
“We are excited by Telguard’s ability to support Sur-Gard’s FIBRO IP alarm format and by the combination of faster signal delivery and potential lower operating costs,” said Tim Creenan, chief executive officer, Amherst Alarm. “As an innovative provider of high quality products, Telguard continues to offer solutions that benefit the entire security and PERS industry.”
Sur-Gard’s FIBRO IP alarm delivery is available with all Telguard cellular alarm communicators. As an added layer of protection for Telguard dealers, should the central station’s Internet connection fail, Telguard will fall back to delivering the message using its traditional dialup methods.
“IP alarm delivery is just one more reason for security dealers to choose Telguard cellular alarm communicators for 3G/4G networks. The ability to transmit alarm signals faster and more reliably is a feature that residential and business customers demand,” said Shawn Welsh, vice president of marketing and business development, Telular. “In addition to launching Telguard HomeControl to augment our portfolio of solutions, we continue to enhance our existing products with features that increase end-user security and our partner’s RMR from every installation, whether it’s new, a takeover or a 2G upgrade.”


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Gionee is currently getting ready to unveil its next smartphone. The M7 will become official on September 25, and a press render showing it has leaked earlier today. But how about some hands-on live images? You ask, Chinese Weibo users deliver. The following shots have been leaked mere hours after the aforementioned press render, and they show the same blue color version.
Gionee M7 in the wild
As you can see, the front of the phone is near bezel-less, following the biggest design trend of 2017, while on the back there’s a dual camera setup – which has to be the second biggest trend of the year in the mobile world.
The Gionee M7 has a metal unibody construction, a fingerprint sensor on the rear, and software-rendered Android navigation buttons. It’s expected to sport a 6-inch 1,080×2,160 touchscreen, 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, the MediaTek Helio P30 SoC, and Android 7.1.1 Nougat on board.
Source (in Chinese) | Via


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Nikolay Storonsky, CEO of Revolut, on stage at the MoneyConf Fintech event in Lisbon, Portugal.
Seb Daly | Web Summit | Getty Images
LONDON – Digital banking start-up Revolut on Friday rolled out tools for its business customers to accept payments online to compete with payment giants like Stripe and Adyen.
Revolut said its new acquisition solution would allow companies to install plug-in checkout software or develop their own custom features to make card payments over the internet.
According to Revolut, companies can also share links with customers through their platform to receive payments. The service is currently only available in Europe.
Revolut was founded five years ago in London and is best known for its money management app and payment card. In recent years, however, the company has focused more on business banking.
Revolut Business, like the company’s consumer-oriented service, has grown rapidly thanks to its clever app and cheaper exchange rates. Revolut Business has won over 500,000 customers since its launch in 2017.
Now the company hopes to get a bigger share of the booming online payments market. A switch to the payment processing software would turn Revolut against the US company Stripe, the Dutch competitor Adyen and the British colleague Checkout.com.
“Payments are at the heart of every business, so we designed a solution that not only met your business account requirements, but also your payment acceptance requirements,” said Nik Storonsky, CEO and founder of Revolut.
“Companies across Europe know that being able to do business online is now critical to their success.”
Cash consumption declining
Digital payment methods have increased this year and consumers are flocking to ecommerce websites due to public health restrictions amid the coronavirus pandemic.
According to Accenture, cash consumption will drop sharply in some European countries. In the UK, for example, cash use is expected to decrease by up to 28% in 2020.
Revolut is one of the highest rated fintech startups in Europe, valued at $ 5.5 billion. But it’s heavily loss-making: losses triple to £ 106.5m ($ 143.3m) in 2019, despite sales up 180% to £ 162.7m. A push into business payments would provide the company with a new source of income.
Revolut announced it would cut card transactions in the UK and EU by 1.3% and charge a 2.8% fee for payments in other regions. Paid users are entitled to specific permission for free transactions that match their monthly plans.
However, Revolut doesn’t yet have many of the larger, more sought-after customers that have boosted Stripe, Adyen, and Checkout’s revenue, and it’s mostly focused on smaller businesses right now.
Stripe, like Revolut, has aggressively moved into other finance areas, including lending and banking. On Thursday, the company, in partnership with Goldman Sachs, Citigroup and Barclays, launched a service that allows merchants to offer their own bank accounts.
However, Stripe’s co-founder and president John Collison has ruled out any intention of becoming a full-fledged bank.
“We are not a bank and we do not plan to become a bank,” he said via video call to reporters on Wednesday and rejected what he calls Silicon Valley mentality of “doing everything yourself”.


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Kia Optima Si
NEWS INDEX: Kia
Kia's new Optima released
15th November, 2015
Refined new interior - higher quality materials; More space
for every occupant; 50% stronger bodyshell; a range of new active safety technologies; Smooth ride and more
agile handling; New high-powered GT model with 2.0-litre Turbo-GDI engine; wireless phone charging .....
Testing time in Death Valley
18th September, 2015
Located deep within the Californian Mojave Desert, the Proving Ground
demonstrates the lengths to which Kia goes to ensure the quality and durability of every new car it builds, including the
all-new Sportage .....
Kia Sportage: next generation revealed
28th August, 2015
Entering its fourth-generation, the all-new Kia Sportage features a
bold, progressive design, with the vehicle’s designers providing a sense of power and agility from every angle .....
Kia Sportage: the next generation
18th August, 2015
Entering its fourth-generation, the all-new Sportage features a bold,
progressive design, which exudes power and agility from every angle. The dynamic compact SUV styling provides visual
harmony out of the tension between bold, precise feature lines and dramatically-sculptured bodywork .....
Kia Picanto coming to Australia
18th August, 2015
Indicative pricing is thought to be around the $14,990* mark which
will allow Picanto to provide a starting-point model to the Kia range .....
Kia Rio Sport and SLi arrive
10th August, 2015
The Rio line-up is back to full strength with the arrival
of the high-grade SLi and Sport models to complete the range .....
Kia Sorento: new generation released
5th June, 2015
Third generation Sorento arrives in Australia; All-new bodyshell
improves ride, handling and crash safety; Improvements to NVH; 5-star ANCAP rating: Sat nav and reversing camera
standard; Priced from $40,990* for the Si petrol through to $55,990* for the Platinum diesel .....
Kia Novo Concept Car
6th April, 2015
Modern, coupé-inspired 4-door design for Kia’s latest concept;
Minimalist interior design with high-tech features; Powered by 1.6-litre turbo GDI engine matched with a new
seven-speed DCT; Hints at the design direction for Kia’s next-generation compact cars .....
Kia Optima: next generation to debut in April
22nd March, 2015
Current generation Kia Optima became a catalyst for the
brand’s tremendous growth and has been the company’s best-selling vehicle in the U.S. for three years running .....
Kia Carnival: new generation released locally
1st March, 2015
Sleek new model blends style and practicality; Stronger body shell
for improved safety, refinement, ride and handling; Versatile interior; Enhanced petrol and diesel engines; all-new
third generation Kia Carnival has arrived! .....
Kia Rio updated
1st February, 2015
The entry-level S, new S Premium and Si models gain a new front
and rear bumper design, new grille pattern, new centre fascia and audio unit design, and metallic look
highlights while retaining all the safety and convenience features from the outgoing models .....
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Kia Sorento earns 5 stars with EuroNCAP
5th December, 2014
Kia’s new SUV scored highly in all four areas (90 per cent Adult
Occupant Protection, 83 per cent Child Occupant Protection, 67 per cent Pedestrian Protection and 71 per cent Safety
Assist) thanks to an even stronger body shell and a wide array of passive and active safety equipment .....
Kia introduce seven year warranty, capped price servicing and roadside
28th October, 2014
Australia’s first comprehensive unlimited kilometre seven year
warranty coupled to a seven year capped-price service programme and seven year roadside assist give Kia buyers
even more reason to smile .....
Kia Sorento: third generation debuts
29th September, 2014
New design for third-generation Kia Sorento; All-new bodyshell
improves ride, handling and crash safety; Improvements to NVH and a step-change in interior quality and design;
3.3-litre petrol or the 2.2-litre turbo diesel for Australia .....
Kia Sorento third generation revealed
11th August, 2014
The front of new Sorento features a larger, more upright ‘tiger-nose’
grille, with a distinctive three-dimensional diamond pattern, and long swept-back headlamps .....
Kia Sorento 3rd generation to debut later this month
6th August, 2014
Sorento’s cabin will raise the bar for luxury in its segment, thanks to
a modern, wrap-around dashboard, high quality soft-touch materials and a range of advanced on-board technologies .....
Kia expand Cerato line-up
1st July, 2014
Sitting between the S and the Si grades, the Cerato S Premium will add
satellite navigation, rear view camera, 7-inch touch screen, 16-inch alloys, auto headlamp control, DVD player and more
for a price-leading $24,590* .....
Kia Sportage updated
12th June, 2014
Across the petrol range the new Sportage will benefit from an upgrade
to the more sophisticated and efficient 2.0-litre GDI powerplant. The popular 2.0-litre variable geometry turbo
diesel R-Series will continue in the AWD models .....
Kia's new MPV to debut this month
6th April, 2014
Kia will unveil an all-new mid-size multi-purpose vehicle at the
2014 New York Motor Show in two weeks .....
Kia pro_cee’d GT arrives
2nd April, 2014
Powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre direct-injection petrol engine,
the pro_cee’d GT guarantees engaging performance for a sports coupe designed not to be the most powerful in class but
with everyday usability and civility in mind. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 7.7 seconds .....
Kia Optima updated
20th January, 2014
Refining the Optima’s sculpted appearance, Kia’s Frankfurt-based
design team improved the vehicle’s front and rear fascia and the brand’s signature tabbed grille. The vehicle’s bold
stance and aerodynamic shape are further accentuated by updated rear diffusers and a sweeping boot lid .....
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Kia Cerato Koup next generation released
4th November, 2013
The top-of-the-line Koup’s 1.6-litre GDi twin-scroll Turbo, the
first forced induction petrol engine for Kia Motors Australia, underscores Kia’s determination to keep the customer
Kia Cerato hatchback
27th October, 2013
For Australia, since its belated launch in 2010, the dominant member
of the Cerato line-up has been the stylish five-door hatchback - accounting for as much as 70 per cent of all Cerato
sales in Australia .....
Kia Sportage Series II released
1st August, 2013
The Sportage Series II, on sale now, adds HID headlamps, static cornering
lamps, aero blade front wipers, partial leather seat trims, rear seat warmer, front wiper de-icer and an Active ECO mode
on the diesel automatic .....
Kia's all-new Rondo released
7th June, 2013
Priced from just $29,990*, Kia's third-generation Rondo (people
mover) is now available in Australia .....
Kia's new Cerato sedan released
21st April, 2013
It features an all-new re-engineered body shell structure and will
also boast improved quality, upgraded equipment, a more spacious cabin with enhanced quality, improved refinement
and an upgraded powertrain line-up .....
Kia Soul for 2014
9th April, 2013
Riding on a new chassis that is stiffer, longer and wider, the
all-new Soul has grown up without losing its edge, allowing for more passenger and cargo room while reducing
NVH levels .....
Kia CUB concept debuts in Seoul
31st March, 2013
The exterior styling of the Kia CUB highlights that it is both
sleek and small, with a cheerful 'face' and a daring 'character'. Design features instigated by Peter Schreyer for
the 2007 Kia Kee 2+2 concept are revisited in a new form .....
Kia pro_cee’d GT turbo coming to Australia
4th March, 2013
Powered by Kia’s high-technology 1.6-litre GDI engine boosted by
a twin-scroll turbocharger, the pro_cee’d GT puts out 150kW and 265Nm of torque. It come with a six-speed manual
gearbox and is capable of a 0-100 km/h sprint in 7.7 seconds .....
Kia Sorento's improved towing solution
17th February, 2013
This heavy duty kit will allow for an increased maximum down ball weight
of 150kg whilst the maximum braked towing capacity will remain the same at 2,000 kg for automatic and 2,500 kg for
manual vehicles .....
Kia Cerato 5-door debuts
8th February, 2013
Lower, longer and wider, the all-new Forte/Cerato 5-door combines European
style with the practicality of a hatchback .....
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Kia's new Cerato revealed
29th November, 2012
It features an all-new body shell, upgraded equipment, a host of
additional convenience and safety features, a more spacious cabin with enhanced quality, improved refinement and
an upgraded powertrain line-up that delivers class-leading performance and fuel economy .....
Kia Sorento updated
29th October, 2012
Kia’s successful and recently improved Sorento SUV is now available
in Australia. The wide-ranging changes include a re-engineered body shell, improved ride, handling and refinement,
additional convenience and safety features .....
Kia introduces "Capped Price" servicing
7th September, 2012
The new Kia Connect programme is the only one in Australia which
offers the capped-price service across a five-year, unlimited kilometre warranty with annual service intervals .....
New look Kia Rondo for 2013
25th July, 2012
With a completely fresh, sleek, cab-forward design, lower
roofline, longer wheelbase, larger wheels (up to 18-inch) and chrome beltline accent, the new Rondo has been
conceived around the theme ‘responsive space’ .....
New look for 2013 Kia Cerato
25th July, 2012
The current Cerato was Kia’s global best-seller in 2011 with more
than 445,000 examples sold .....
Wheel chair accessible rental vehicles
6th July, 2012
Europcar Australia and Automobility Pty Ltd have announced an Australian first
partnership by placing Kia Grand Carnival wheelchair accessible vehicles in Europcar’s local rental fleet .....
Kia Sorento for 2013
19th June, 2012
Kia’s designers have included new headlamps with LED positioning
lights, a new tailgate with LED rear combination lamps, new bumpers (front and rear) with vertical-axis fog lights
and a larger area of body-colour surface, and an expanded choice of wheels to include larger diameter alloys .....
Kia Cerato eXtra limited edition
30th March, 2012
The Kia Cerato eXtra 6-speed manual is priced at $21,490* while the
6-speed automatic is $23,490*. That represents a premium of just $1,250 over the comparative Si model hatch and
$1,500 for the sedan .....
Kia finds satnav
15th March, 2012
Kia is joining many other brands by offering Satellite
Kia Rio gains 3 & 4 door variants
16th February, 2012
Tasked with the job of improving upon the international success
of the previous generation, Kia’s engineers and designers have designed a new Rio in three body styles, combining
European flair and Australian drivability priced from $15,290* .....
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Kia Soul updated for 2012
6th December, 2011
At the heart of the new model range is the all-new 2.0-litre
MPI petrol engine from the Nu 'family' of 4-cylinder engines. The new Nu brings a sparkling 122 kW and 200
Nm to the table and takes to three the engine choices for the 2012 Kia Soul range .....
Kia at SEMA 2011
2nd November, 2011
This year’s show cars were inspired by Kia’s growing
sports marketing portfolio that includes basketball, golf, motor sports and more .....
Kia Rio 5-door hatch released
14th October, 2011
The new Rio, which is available in S, Si and SLi trim
levels, combines European flair, Australian drivability with Korean spice and starts at just $16,290*. The
range topping SLi comes standard with LED daytime running lights and 17-inch alloy wheels fitted with a low
profile, high performance 205/45/R17 Continental tyre as standard, making it one of the most feature packed
vehicles in its class .....
Kia Optima Hybrid gains Guinness World Record
16th September, 2011
Drivers Wayne Gerdes and Chris Bernius successfully drove a
factory-standard 2011 Kia Optima Hybrid sedan through a 7,899 mile route across America and achieved an incredible
average fuel consumption of 3.64 l/100 km .....
Kia GT Concept
13th September, 2011
Although work on the Kia GT concept first started in November
2010, the idea of a powerful rear-wheel drive Kia saloon had been percolating in the minds of Kia’s European
designers for some time .....
Kia Optima Hybrid looking for record low fuel consumption
26th August, 2011
The aim is to set a new record for lowest fuel consumption (in a
petrol hybrid car) while driving through all 48 continental states of America .....
Kia's surprise sports sedan
21st August, 2011
This rear-wheel drive four-door sports sedan combines sleek
proportions with a sophisticated and elegant four-seater cabin .....
Kia Grand Carnival updated
2nd August, 2011
Australia’s most popular people mover under $55,000, the Kia Carnival,
has just received an upgrade resulting in four long wheelbase models, Bluetooth across the range and the introduction
of the legendary “R-series” CRDi turbo diesel engine to the line-up .....
Kia Soul for 2012
17th May, 2011
The globally successful Soul is fine-tuned for 2012 with a
significant number of technology and powertrain enhancements to deliver more power and improved fuel
Kia Rio sedan revealed
24th April, 2011
Kia Motors America (KMA) has celebrated the world premiere of the
all-new 2012 Rio sub-compact sedan at the New York Motor Show .....
Kia K2 for China
19th April, 2011
Kia Motors and its Chinese joint venture, Dongfeng Yueda
Kia, unveiled the K2 B-segment sedan today at the 2011 Shanghai Motor Show in China. Based on the platform
of the all-new Rio .....
Kia Naimo Electric Concept
1st April, 2011
The third electric vehicle design to be unveiled by Kia Motors
Corporation in a year, the 3.9-metre long Naimo concept explores the practicalities of introducing a zero-emissions,
five-door, four-seater city car into a future niche market .....
Kia Picanto: more details
17th March, 2011
Longer than the previous model, and with an extended wheelbase,
new Picanto promises more passenger comfort and increased cargo space. Offered for the first time with a choice
of 5-door and 3-door body styles, it is set to completely redefine its position as one of the most competitive
vehicles in the global ‘city car’ category .....
Next Kia Rio revealed
3rd March, 2011
In addition to appealing to consumers’ aesthetic tastes,
the new Kia Rio will spearhead the company’s efforts to significantly grow its market share across the
globe by offering potential owners industry-leading environmental credentials .....
Kia Rio: the next generation
11th February, 2011
The new model features a wheelbase extended by 70 mm (to
2,570 mm) and promises greater passenger space and comfort, together with increased cargo capacity to 292
litres (hatchback) and 390 litres (sedan). Exterior dimensions changes include: +55 mm (overall length),
-15 mm (height) and +25 mm (overall width) to enhance the feeling of sportiness .....
Kia Picanto: more details
24th January, 2011
Making its global premiere at the Geneva Motor Show in March,
new Picanto has been redesigned and re-engineered with stand-out styling that conveys a sense of solidity and
maturity. Longer than the previous model, and with an extended wheelbase, new Picanto promises more passenger
comfort and 27 per cent increased cargo space .....
Kia Optima ready for local release
21st January, 2011
The new generation Kia Optima (formerly known as the Magentis
in Australia) made its world premiere at the New York Motor Show in April 2010 and now it's about to arrive in
local Kia dealerships. It is a completely new design of Kia's mid-size sedan .....
Hear Chris Goodsell
Talk Motoring On
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Kia Rio: the next generation
12th January, 2011
Longer, lower and wider than the existing Rio, the new
model is designed to inject emotional appeal into the B-segment, targeting progressive, energetic consumers
in the 25-to-49 age range .....
Kia KV7 Concept
11th January, 2011
Conceived as a modern-day “activity van,” the Kia KV7 concept
challenges the notion that vans are strictly for family transportation and reveals a vision for a vehicle with the
functionality to transport a large number of people and their belongings while also serving as a 'connected' social
hub for groups of friends and adventure-seekers .....
2010: a bumper year of sales
6th January, 2011
“This is an exceptional outcome and is the second highest
result on record and only the third time ever that the market exceeded more than one million sales,” FCAI
Chief Executive Andrew McKellar said .....
Kia Picanto: more details
4th January, 2011
Completely redesigned and re-engineered, the new car has grown
in overall length and wheelbase and is set to redefine its position as one of the most competitive vehicles in
its segment .....
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Preview: Kia KV7 Concept
24th December, 2010
For the past several years Kia Motors’ design-led transformation
has been delivering production vehicles – such as the Soul, Cerato Koup and Sportage – that bear a very close
resemblance to the original concept designs that preceded them .....
Kia's all-new Picanto
7th December, 2010
It will compete in Europe's crowded "A" segment and, following
recent Kia trends, the new model is designed to stand out from the crowd! .....
Kia Optima Hybrid
2nd December, 2010
Arriving in Kia dealer showrooms in the United States early next
year, the 2011 Optima Hybrid is the brand’s first-ever hybrid for North America and uses a “full parallel hybrid
system” to deliver a unique blend of performance .....
Kia Sorento update
9th November, 2010
Kia's medium sized SUV, Sorento, has received a 2011 model year
refresh across the range with a list of enhancements ranging from Bluetooth technology to leather wrapped
instrument cluster housing .....
Kia at SEMA
4th November, 2010
Arriving at the gateway to the 2010-2011 automotive show
season, Kia Motors America (KMA) is ready to roll at this week's 2010 SEMA Show in Las Vegas (USA) with a
diverse and attention-grabbing line-up of concept and production-intent vehicles to further showcase Kia’s
eye-catching new generation of vehicles .....
Kia Soul with "Flex-Fuel"
3rd November, 2010
Kia’s Soul Flex is the first Korean FFV (Flexible Fuel Vehicle)
which can run on an ethanol-petrol mixture, 100% ethanol or 100% petrol. It is especially designed for the
Brasilian market, where ‘flex’ models account for more than 85% of the new car sales .....
Kia prepares for Optima release
20th October, 2010
“This is a truly stylish and classy design statement that
underscores the reasons why Kia is one of the fastest growing brands in the automotive world,” Kia Motors
Australia COO Tony Barlow said .....
Kia Cerato hatch released
15th October, 2010
Kia is introducing a third member of the Cerato range – the 5-door
Hatchback, to strengthen its representation in what is arguably the world’s most important market sector – the
ultra-competitive small passenger vehicle or C-segment .....
Kia at Paris Motor Show
23rd September, 2010
Kia’s 2010 Paris Motor Show stand will major on striking design
and new technologies. Taking centre stage and making its world premiere will be the eye-catching, compact and
unique electric POP concept .....
Kia Sportage named “2010 Top Safety Pick” by IIHS
19th August, 2010
Arriving in Kia showrooms in the U.S. now, Sportage received the
organisation’s top honour by earning “Good” ratings – the highest achievable – in frontal, side, rear and rollover
impact crash safety tests .....
New Kia Sportage released
11th August, 2010
Longer, wider and lower than the previous model, the all-new
design successfully retains the key SUV features – the command drive position, heightened sense of security and
powerful road presence – which made the outgoing second generation Kia Sportage so popular .....
Kia release Limited Edition Cerato sedan
29th July, 2010
The ‘Kia Cerato Limited’ boasts all the great features of the
standard SLi Package, plus several unique enhancements including leather seats, electric sunroof, body kit and
rear spoiler .....
Kia Sportage - looking at the design
30th June, 2010
“I want to give Kia global appeal, and I want that appeal to be
about design above all else – the new Sportage is a major step towards achieving that goal” says Peter
Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer .....
Mobility solutions from Freedom and Kia
27th June, 2010
Freedom Motors Australia is giving disabled people greater
freedom and confidence in their daily lives through their quality conversion of people movers and other
vehicles for wheelchair access .....
Kia Carnival facelift
16th June, 2010
Since its launch towards the end of 2005, the current model Kia
Carnival has dominated the people mover segment, finishing each year as Australia's top-selling people mover .....
Globally, Kia sales continue to rise
8th June, 2010
Kia Motors Corporation announced today its global sales
figures for May 2010, recording a total of 175,098 units sold. This figure represents a year-on-year increase
of 23.4% .....
Kia sales up (again)
6th June, 2010
Cerato continues to impress with new vehicle sales up 14.6%
compared to May last year and up 34.9% when compared to 2009 year to date figures .....
Kia helps Healthy Harold reach regional NSW
25th May, 2010
A national education programme will be able to expand its
offering in regional NSW with the support of Kia Motors Australia .....
Increased sales continue for Kia
7th May, 2010
The popularity of Kia Motors Australia continued to increase in
April with year-to-date sales figures up 23.8% compared to the same period last year according to April VFACTS
Kia Forte is 'Top Safety Pick' by IIHS in the US
23rd April, 2010
Following in the footsteps of the 2010 Soul urban passenger
vehicle, Kia Forte (known as 'Cerato' in Australia) has been recognised by the US' Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety (IIHS) with a 2010 'Top Safety Pick' award in the Small Car category .....
Kia's top quarter
20th April, 2010
Kia Motors Australia has continued its strong start to 2010
posting year-to-date sales figures which are up 27.8% when compared to the same period last year .....
Kia reveal the Cerato hatchback
2nd April, 2010
Making its world premiere in New York this week-end is the Kia
Cerato five-door hatchback. Keeping in line with the stylish and practical Cerato compact sedan and Cerato Koup,
the new five-door adds another attractive option to the Cerato 'family' .....
New Kia Optima revealed
2nd April, 2010
From the distinctive sweeping chrome accent that stretches
through the C pillars to the sleek 'greenhouse' and flared wheel arches, every inch of the Optima projects a
distinguished and refined style and extreme attention to detail .....
Kia Venga wins red dot design award
16th March, 2010
Kia Venga has won the coveted red dot design award, marking
the second prize the car maker’s newest B-segment MPV has won since its launch .....
New Kia Magentis: more details
14th March, 2010
It’s a car that people will simply not expect from Kia .....
Kia new Sportage
5th March, 2010
The unveiling of the third generation Sportage continues Kia
Motors aggressive product refresh strategy to deliver new design with quality, safety and value to buyers .....
Kia opens US factory
1st March, 2010
Mass production of the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento CUV began in
November with the product going on sale in the US in January. Selling 7,398 units in its first month, the 2011
Sorento was Kia’s best-selling vehicle in January .....
New Kia Magentis: first details
22nd February, 2010
This new model will stretch the influence the highly successful
Korean brand has on the Australian market! .....
Kia Ray Plug In Hybrid Concept
11th February, 2010
Kia have chosen America's Chicago Motor Show to debut it's 'Ray' plug-in
hybrid concept .....
All-new Kia Sportage images released
3rd February, 2010
Kia will unveil the all-new Sportage at the Geneva Motor Show
in March .....
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All-new Kia Cerato Koup released
24th September, 2009
Building on the success on the new Cerato sedan launched locally
in January 2009, the Cerato Koup offers performance, ride and handling that is even more responsive than the
sedan. The Cerato Koup is destined to broaden the appeal of Kia to a new group of consumers who seek the
particular appeal of two-door cars .....
Value packed coupe for Kia
18th September, 2009
Many features are a highlight of this new car. Foremost is the
price. The manufacturer's list price (excluding dealer charges and state/territory statutory charges) is from
$23,690 (manual transmission) and $25,690 (automatic) .....
Euro NCAP: Five Stars for Kia Sorento
27th August, 2009
The all-new Kia Sorento, due in Australia in early 2010, has been
awarded the maximum 5-star safety rating in the latest Euro NCAP crash test results, placing the Sorento amongst the
safest SUVs on the road .....
Kia's new Venga
26th August, 2009
Kia’s stylish and uniquely spacious new premium B-segment
contender will be named ‘Venga’ when it goes on sale across Europe later this year and in the UK early in
Extra value with Limited Edition Kia Cerato
17th August, 2009
Kia has announced a Limited Edition Cerato with features
valued at $1,200 being offered to customers at no extra cost for a limited time only .....
Kia Soul earns another safety accolade
14th August, 2009
Kia's affordable car now adds a 2009 ‘Top Safety Pick’ from
America's highly respected Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) to its list of accomplishments .....
Kia at Frankfurt Motor Show
13th August, 2009
With sales continually rising, Kia heads to the Frankfurt Motor
Show full of confidence. In keeping with the Kia tradition, a surprise is sure to be a component of their stand
at Germany's largest motor show .....
Kia to share in joint focus on eco-friendly growth
9th August, 2009
Kia will be fully involved in this process with petrol and
diesel hybrid vehicles set to follow the European introduction of its emission-reducing cee'd ISG models within
the next two years. Kia is also working on plug-in hybrids and has some of the most advanced fuel cell vehicles
operating anywhere in the world .....
Kia Soul (petrol/manual)
6th August, 2009
Kia's new premium sedan
30th July, 2009
The new model, currently known by its code name VG, was
shown in concept form at the Seoul Motor Show earlier this year and is set to replace the existing Opirus .....
Kia Forte LPI Hybrid Revealed
19th July, 2009
Kia Motors has unveiled its first commercialised hybrid electric
vehicle (HEV), the Forte Liquid Petroleum Injection (LPI) Hybrid in Seoul .....
Kia Soul’ster awarded 2009 Concept Truck of the Year
24th June, 2009
A two-piece top enables passengers to expose the front and back seating areas
independently, using 'elbow-grease' technology .....
Kia Motors posts 11.5% increase in May global sales
17th June, 2009
Kia announced today that its global sales figures for May 2009
recorded a total of 141,949 units. This marks a year-on-year increase of 11.5% .....
Kia Soul 3 (petrol/automatic)
14th June, 2009
New Kia is a UK Soul sensation – 1,000 sold in 100 days
14th June, 2009
Kia's new Soul has reached a major milestone in the UK as the
1,000th was delivered just 100 days after the Soul went on sale across the UK .....
Kia grows market share despite tighter Australian market
4th June, 2009
Kia has outperformed the Australian vehicle market and recorded
positive growth for the first five months of 2009 in an industry that is down 19.2 per cent against the same time
in 2008 .....
Higher spec Kia Soul models gain 5-Star Euro NCAP safety rating
31st May, 2009
The all-new Kia Soul urban crossover (in Western European
specification) has been awarded a 5-Star safety rating (the maximum score) in the latest Euro-NCAP crash test
Kia Soul 3 (diesel/automatic)
20th May, 2009
Kia sales soar in eight countries during April
14th May, 2009
Outperforming the overall market, Kia's new car sales in Western
Europe achieved significant increases in April, seeing major improvements in eight countries .....
Kia introduces Koup
10th April, 2009
With performance-inspired, aggressive and sleek styling,
Kia overnight debuted the Koup production vehicle at the 2009 New York Motor Show .....
All-New Kia Soul Released Locally
3rd April, 2009
The eagerly awaited all-new Kia Soul marks a revolutionary
expansion of the Kia product line-up and redefines the 'personality' of cars, with the so-called Generation Y
and the young-at-heart firmly in its sights .....
Kia's 2010 Sorento Debuts At Seoul Motor Show
2nd April, 2009
Longer and lower, the new Sorento brings sleek styling and a
futuristic touch to the world of the urban SUV. With its longer front overhang, wedge profile .....
Kia wins a 2009 ‘red dot’ Design Award
22nd March, 2009
Kia’s stylish and fun urban cross-over vehicle, the Soul, has
become the first Korean car ever to receive the prestigious recognition of a design award from the world renowned
‘red dot’ awards .....
New Kia No 3 concept car stars at Geneva Show
13th March, 2009
The concept features a unique extended windscreen and panorama glass roof
with a diagonal supporting bar, an automatic sun visor and the evolving 'face of Kia' .....
Kia Soul - redefines the 'personality' of cars
3rd March, 2009
With 61 factory and locally fitted options available, no
two Souls seen in the street are likely to be the same, thus expressing the individuality of their owners .....
Kia Launches Grand Carnival Diesel
27th February, 2009
The latest Grand Carnival offers the same pulling capacity as its V6
engined 'brother' but with the added benefit of 33 per cent lower fuel efficiency .....
It’s a magic number for Kia! The No 3. Concept To Debut In Geneva
25th February, 2009
Keeping up its reputation for showing concepts that lead to reality, Kia is
playing the numbers game at the Salon de l’Automobile (Geneva Motor Show) in Switzerland next week with the debut of the
all-new No 3 concept .....
Kia Motors donates mobile clinic in Ethiopia
19th February, 2009
Kia Motors today announced the donation of a mobile clinic in Ethiopia, one
of the world’s least developed countries, as a means to help improve maternal and infant health .....
Kia's New Concept Car For Geneva
8th February, 2009
Redefining the MPV genre, Kia will introduce "a great looking MPV" with a
unique glass roof treatment to provide a cool and spacious automotive 'powerhouse' .....
Kia's All-New Cerato Arrives
26th January, 2009
Modern and dynamic styling, class
leading power, class leading 4.5 stars Green Vehicle rating, six airbags standard in
every model, iPod® compatible audio system, European-standard ride and handling, 5
year/unlimited kilometre warranty for private buyers, great value and a low entry
price - the all new Kia Cerato has it all .....
Europe's Kia cee'd Adds ISG (Idle Stop & Go) Option
21st January, 2009
Made in Europe, the C-segment
cee'd ISG cars are the first Kia production models to benefit from the Korean
Corporation's continuing and massive investment in eco-friendly technologies for
the future .....
Kia Showcases Soul'ster In Detroit
15th January, 2009
Soul'ster is an efficient front-drive car based on the Kia Soul production
model, which made its world debut at the 2008 Mondial de l'Automobile in Paris in October 2008 .....
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Kia Motors wins 2008 Design Award
22nd December, 2008
Kia Motors received the President's Award
for Design at the 10th annual Korea Design Awards in recognition of the company's
design-centred management strategy implemented in multiple stages since 2005 .....
Kia At Los Angeles Motor Show
25th November, 2008
Kia reveals next generation Borrego
fuel cell vehicle and production model Soul at the 2008 Los Angeles Motor Show .....
New Cerato Introduces New 'Face' For Kia
16th October, 2008
The new model will bridge the gap
between small and medium cars with the space, performance, features and value that
many Australian car buyers are seeking, without having to pay more for a medium
sized car .....
Kia Motors Heralds Four Premieres At Paris Motor Show
26th September, 2008
Soul presents consumers with such a
broad selection of styling, comfort and equipment choices, that it redefines the
concept of freedom. It's a brand new urban car packed full of liberating ideas .....
Kia UK In The Pink
23rd September, 2008
After upgrading her Kia with the
family-owned dealership and making her request, her dream has become a reality
after picking up her newly sprayed Sorento .....
Kia Confirms Engine Line-Up For Soul
11th September, 2008
The most powerful engine will
be a 2-litre, four-cylinder petrol unit producing 106 kW at 6,000 rpm and 186
Nm of torque at 4,600 rpm .....
Sports Pack Adds Value To Kia Carnival
19th August, 2008
One of Australia's most affordable
people-movers, the Kia Carnival, is now available for a limited time with up to $5,400
worth of extra equipment at no extra cost .....
New Kia Sorento limited edition pack
is perfect for your Global Circuit
28th July, 2008
Kia's popular Sorento mid-sized SUV,
including the sought-after 2.5-litre CRDi models, is now available for a limited
time with $3,400 worth of extra equipment that makes Sorento perfect for your next
trip, whether it's circumnavigating the world or just going away for the weekend .....
New Kia Soul to feature choice of three engines
18th July, 2008
Kia Motors Corporation has
confirmed that its all-new production model, the Kia Soul, will be marketed
globally with a choice of three highly efficient engines (depending on individual
markets), when it goes on sale in early 2009 .....
Kia Motors celebrates opening of US corporate HQ and design centre
9th July, 2008
It consists of a design studio, a
modelling studio that allows up to eight vehicle models to be worked on simultaneously .....
Kia Soul production model will retain concept's name
25th May, 2008
Kia Motors Corporation has
confirmed that its all-new production model will retain the spirit and name of the
SOUL concept cars shown earlier this year at the Geneva Motor Show .....
Kia cee'd certified as 'environmentally-friendly' by TUV
7th May, 2008
As further evidence of its
development as a global car maker, Kia Motors Corporation has now been presented
with two significant international certificates which confirm that the design and
manufacturing processes behind the successful Kia cee'd range of vehicles are,
indeed, "environmentally friendly" .....
Kia Rondo 7 Arrives Locally
20th April, 2008
Modern and dynamic styling,
seven seats standard in every model, Electronic Stability Programme (ESP)
standard in every model, European-standard ride and handling, the versatility
and seating positions of an SUV, flexible seating arrangements, 5-year/unlimited
kilometre warranty for private buyers, great value and a low entry price - the
all new Kia Rondo 7 is a car without equal in the Australian car market .....
No Dipsticks At Kia
4th April, 2008
Under the title "Kia announces new KEE_wii
concept with revolutionary wireless driving system" Kia Motors in England issued a media
release (1st April, 2008), which almost certainly would have proved why we have
'dipsticks' in this crazy world. Don't be taken in by it, as it was just an
exceptionally clever April Fools Prank (or AFP for short) .....
New Kia K2900 CRDi - New 'Workhorse'
27th March, 2008
With more than 4,200 units sold in
Australia since introduction, the K2700's popularity demanded that any replacement
for that truck would need to promise something fairly special. The new K2900 CRDi
delivers on that promise - it's the new age workhorse for tradespeople and small
fleet users .....
Kia Debuts 2009 Magentis In New York
24th March, 2008
Kia Motors America (KMA) has unveiled
the 2009 Magentis mid-size sedan at the New York Motor Show. The refreshed Magentis
(Optima in US) offers a completely modified exterior, which offers a more aggressive,
dynamic style than previous models and is outfitted with a new engine that provides
more power and better fuel economy .....
Kia KOUP Concept Revealed In New York
23rd March, 2008
Kia Motors Corporation pulled the covers
off its latest design statement in New York. Originating from the Kia Motors America
Design Centre in California, the striking KOUP concept demonstrates Kia’s ‘Power to
Surprise’ philosophy .....
Kia SOUL Concepts And eco_cee'd Appear In Geneva
10th March, 2008
The concept cars - SOUL Diva, SOUL
Burner and SOUL Searcher - were designed by Kia's European design team under the
guidance of Kia's Chief Design Officer, Peter Schreyer. The trio of concept cars is
closely related to a new production car which will make its world premiere at the
Paris Motor Show in October .....
Kia Picanto Sports - Sporty, Fuel-Efficient Fun For Urban Lifestyles
29th February, 2008
Kia is displaying the Picanto Sports,
the sportiest version of Kia's fuel-efficient and fun A-segment car, at the 2008
Melbourne Motor Show. Kia is considering this tiny car for the Australian market .....
Factory Five-Year Warranty Expected To Boost Kia Resale Values
22nd February, 2008
As larger volumes of Kia's 2008
model range start filtering into the market, expect to see Kia resale values begin
to rise .....
Three SOUL Concepts To Reveal 'Fun' Side Of Kia
20th February, 2008
Three new SOUL concept cars to be unveiled
by Kia at the Geneva Motor Show in March will reveal a whole new 'fun' side to the Korean
Kia Rondo Confirmed For May Release
11th February, 2008
Kia is about to release a new model
in Australia. The Rondo a 'crossover' vehicle is set for a release this coming May .....
Kia Quality And Value Now Matched By 5-Year Factory Warranty
4th February, 2008
Kia's rapid move to greater quality
and reliability as a match for its value has provided another reason for new car
buyers to consider Kia with the recent announcement that all Kia vehicles sold from
1st January, 2008, will be covered by a standard, factory-backed five-year warranty .....
Kia Motors Extends Major Commitment To Australian Open
31st January, 2008
Kia Motors Corporation has extended
its multi-million dollar sponsorship of the Australian Open tennis tournament as
the major sponsor until 2013 in a new deal which includes broadcasting the
tournament to fans at public locations in China as well as Australia .....
Kia Shows All-New Borrego V8 In Detroit
14th January, 2008
Kia Motors Corporation, from South
Korea, has announced the world debut of the all-new Borrego SUV (to be known as
"Mohave" in some markets) at the 2008 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS)
in Detroit, further bolstering its ever growing product line-up .....
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Adelaide-To-Sydney On One Tank Of Diesel
- Kia SUVs Meet The Challenge
7th December, 2007
Far away from the hype of the
Greenfleet technology class of the World Solar Challenge in October, Kia's new
diesel SUVs - the Sorento CRDI and Sportage CRDi - have achieved an amazing feat of
fuel economy, being driven from Adelaide to Sydney using just one tank of diesel
Kia Awarded "Top Safety Pick" By America's IIHS
22nd November, 2007
Sedona (known as Carnival in
Australia) was selected by America's IIHS as one of only 34 vehicles to earn the
"Top Safety Pick" award for its impressive performance with top ratings in frontal,
side and rear impact crash tests .....
Kia Shows KND-4 Concept Vehicle in Los Angeles
18th November, 2007
Kia Motors America (KMA) has unveiled the
KND-4 compact SUV concept vehicle at the Los Angeles Motor Show .....
Kia's V6/V8 SUV For 2008
8th November, 2007
Borrego will be available with either
a V6 engine or the company’s first V8 offering (in some markets), which will also
boast Kia’s largest towing capacity to date .....
Kia at SEMA
1st November, 2007
Kia Motors America (KMA) displayed
its sporty new concept vehicle, the Spectra 5 SX concept, at this year’s SEMA Show
in Las Vegas, USA .....
Kia plans to market 'eco' versions of cee'd models for Europe
24th October, 2007
Kia Motors has confirmed that it
will add 'eco' versions of the Kia cee'd model to its European product line-up
early in 2009 .....
Kia Rondo - The "Urban Recreation Vehicle"
12th October, 2007
Kia is previewing the forthcoming
Rondo at the 2007 Sydney Motor Show in response to a new segment dawning in the
Australian car market - the "crossover" .....
Kia to supply Slovakia Police
25th September, 2007
Kia Motors has been appointed ‘Official
Supplier’ to the Slovakian Ministry of the Interior and awarded the contract to supply
locally manufactured Kia vehicles to the country’s police forces until 2010 .....
Kee concept heralds ‘new look’ for the future of Kia
11th September, 2007
Peter Schreyer, Chief Design Officer Kia Motors Corporation, talks about
the all-new Kia Kee V6 2+2 sports coupe concept unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show today .....
New Kia Sportage - Ready For Action
2nd September, 2007
The new Kia Sportage range,
launched yesterday, continues Kia Motors Australia's revamped SUV strategy of
more choice in engines and equipment than ever before, while still delivering
quality, safety and value in SUVs that have always appealed to Australian
New Kia Sorento CRDi & 3.3 V6
15th August, 2007
The new Kia Sorento range epitomises Kia Motors Australia's
revamped SUV strategy by offering more choice in engines and equipment than ever before, while still
delivering quality, safety and value .....
Kia To Reveal Sports Coupe Concept Car At Frankfurt Motor Show
20th July, 2007
Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed that the company's all-new sports coupe concept
car will make its world premiere at this year's Frankfurt Motor Show in mid-September .....
Kia Carnival And Sorento Earn Crash Rating Praise
16th July, 2007
Kia continues to build its global
reputation for delivering quality and safety with strong value, this time
receiving high praise - a 'Good' rating - from the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety (IIHS) of the US for the performance in rear impact collisions of the Kia
Carnival people mover (known in the US as the Sedona) and the Sorento mid-size SUV ....
Royal College Of Art Honours Kia Design Chief
9th July, 2007
Kia Motors Chief Design Officer, Peter
Schreyer, has become only the third automotive designer to receive an Honorary Doctorate
from the Royal College of Art (RCA) in the United Kingdom in recognition of his
contribution to automotive design ....
Kia Betters Non-Premium Average In JD Power 2007 Initial Quality
15th June, 2007
Kia Motors Corporation has
outperformed the non-premium average for the first time in the JD Power and
Associates' 2007 Initial Quality Study™ (IQS), a survey of the number of problems
new vehicle owners in the USA experience after three months of ownership .....
Kia Carnival Named Most Affordable People-Mover To Run
30th May, 2007
The Kia Carnival is the most
affordable people-mover to own and run according to the Royal Automobile Club of
Victoria's (RACV) annual survey of vehicle operating costs, mirroring the
Carnival's performance in the 2006 RACV survey .....
Kia Opens Slovakian Plant
26th April, 2007
Kia Motors Corporation hosted an
opening ceremony at its Zilina plant in Slovakia this week to mark the opening of
Kia’s first ever European factory .....
Kia Ex_Cee’d Cabrio Concept
23rd February, 2007
Kia’s all-new ex_cee’d cabrio concept car will be
premiered at the 77th Salon de l’Automobiles in Geneva, Switzerland .....
Top of page
The Frankness of EuroNCAP
24th December, 2006
Claes Tingvall, Euro NCAP Chairman,
said "Manufacturers like Hyundai and Kia are now a long way behind the front-runners
and it is high time that they realise that such poor results are unacceptable.” .....
Kia Kue concept car
20th December, 2006
Kia Motors Corporation has released a preview
sketch of the all-new 'Kue' concept car, which will make its world premiere at the upcoming
Detroit Motor Show .....
New Kia Carnival
13th November, 2006
The new Kia Carnival is smaller
than the Kia Grand Carnival, which was launched earlier this year .....
Kia Sportage Diesel for 2007
8th November, 2006
Kia Motors Australia previewed a diesel
version of its Sportage compact SUV at the Sydney Motor Show, ahead of a planned
introduction in mid-2007 .....
Face-lifted Kia Sorento now offers more
30th October, 2006
Kia has released a limited edition
version of its new Sorento to launch the recent facelift of its mid-size SUV model .....
Kia Pro_Ceed Concept Car
21st September, 2006
Kia has revealed the first image of its latest
concept car that is scheduled to debut at the Paris Motor Show next week .....
Peter Schreyer To Head Kia Design Teams
31st July, 2006
Kia Motors Corporation announced today that it has appointed automotive
industry designer Peter Schreyer to the new position of Chief Design Officer .....
Kia's New European Car
23rd July, 2006
Kia Motors Corporation issued
the first photographs of its all-new European car – code named ‘ED’ – at the
British International Motor Show in London .....
New Kia Carens Makes Debut In Spain
28th May, 2006
The all-new Kia Carens compact MPV made its world premiere at
the Madrid Motor Show on Friday .....
Kia Reaffirms Australian Ambitions
26th April, 2006
Australian Kia dealers have expressed their concerns about the
dodgy payments scandal which has embroiled the Hyundai Group in South Korea .....
All-New Kia Carens
14th April, 2006
Kia Motors Corporation yesterday issued the first official
photos of its all-new Carens compact MPV .....
Kia To Unveil New Carens In Madrid
3rd April, 2006
Kia Motors has announced its all-new Carens compact MPV
will make its world premiere at the forthcoming Madrid Motor Show .....
Kia Motors Announces Plans For U.S. Plant
13th March, 2006
Kia today announced plans to construct a $1.2 billion (USD)
automotive assembly and manufacturing plant in West Point, Troup County, Georgia, USA .....
Kia Cee’d Concept Car
17th February, 2006
Kia will unveil a new concept car at the Geneva Motor Show. The
show car, named Cee’d (pronounced ‘seed’) .....
Kia at Geneva Motor Show
6th February, 2006
Kia Motors Corporation will reveal three new vehicles when the
76th Salon de l’Automobiles, one of Europe’s most prestigious motor shows .....
Top of page
Kia Sorento Completes Expedition
28th December, 2005
Christer Gerlach, the record-breaking Swedish driver and adventurer,
successfully completed the Sorento Around the World Expedition¡ - a 27,000-kilometre global adventure .....
Kia's New Grand Carnival
26th December, 2005
With the launch of the Grand Carnival on 1st January 2006, Kia will
start the new year with another assault on the people mover market with an all-new vehicle that is larger in
every way .....
Kia Takes The Soul Train To Detroit
17th December, 2005
The Kia Soul concept car will be revealed to the world when
America's biggest car show opens its doors in Detroit on 9th January 2006 .....
Kia Sidewinder Hits L.A.
12th December, 2005
Kia Designer, Marc Mainville, has entered
his radical design for the Kia Sidewinder concept into the Los Angeles Automotive Show design contest .....
Kia Hatches A New Cerato
25th October, 2005
Kia is looking to boost its Cerato sales in Australia with
the launch of a five door hatch .....
Christer Gerlach has arrived in Korea
11th October, 2005
Kia Motors Corporation announced yesterday that Christer Gerlach, the
pioneering Swedish driver and adventurer, has arrived in Korea .....
Kia Cerato sedan wins major award in Canada
21st December, 2004
The Automobile Journalists Association
of Canada (AJAC) has recently crowned the 2005 Kia Cerato sedan as the Economy Car of
the Year for 2005 .....
Cerato Opens The Next Chapter On Kia's Australian Success Story
24th May, 2004
Kia may already be Australia's
fastest growing brand, with its 70 per cent increase in sales earning it a
place in Australia's top ten brands, but it won't be resting on its laurels in
the second half of 2004 with the arrival of the all-new Kia Cerato .....
Top of page


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China trade financing reviving, but bankers wary
Beijing, June 10, 2009
Bankers say trade financing in China is reviving, up to a point, thanks to ample liquidity in the domestic banking system and confidence in the steps that Western governments, especially in the US, have taken to prop up their banks.
"It's by no means 'cowboy time' with people running out and discounting letters of credit as though there's no tomorrow,” said Karl Alomar, the chief executive of China Export Finance.
“They are still being very cautious, very specific about terms and structure and documents and signatures," he added.
And although Chinese banks were displaying more of an appetite to finance trade, smaller Chinese firms in particular would struggle to get banks to start discounting their letters of credit, a staple of trade finance, Alomar said.
"The market is opening up, but to a limited audience," said Alomar, whose firm arranges trade finance for exporters of Chinese goods to Western markets.
As for Western banks doing business in China, many simply did not have enough capital to provide the same level of funding as they did in the past.
"You're seeing a lot of people having credit pulled away from them. There's not the same availability of letters of credit that they would have had before September 2008," he said.
All this spells business opportunities for cashed-up Chinese banks as their Western rivals seek to refinance their loans or lay off risk, said Wu Guoshan, a deputy general manager in Agricultural Bank of China's international department.
"We see a growing demand for export risk insurance. At the same time, we're noticing more requests from banks for L/C confirmation and risk-sharing in trade finance," he told an Asian Banker forum last month in Beijing.
The International Monetary Fund estimates that the shortfall in trade finance reached $500 billion early this year. It reckons the gap has now shrunk to between $50 billion and $220 billion.
Christian Edelman, a partner at Oliver Wyman, a financial services consultancy, said trade financing volumes were now recovering from a nadir reached in the first two months of the year.
He estimated two-thirds of the contraction in trade was due to a slump in final demand. But the remainder was caused by the evaporation of credit as banks shied away from lending to one another.
"The question is how the banks are able to refocus on trade,” he said.
“I think that's one of their key priorities, given that trade is relatively low risk," he added.
But for many banks, even if they are not short of capital, it is not business as usual. Risk aversion has increased and, for now, is here to stay.
"There's a tendency on the part of banks to be more selective," said Yanti Agustin, Asia Pacific head of global trade services in Singapore for J P Morgan.
She said official export credit agencies and international financial institutions could do much more to help lower banks' risks by extending coverage and cutting red tape. A pledge to boost trade finance made in April by the Group of 20 developed and emerging economies had so far had little discernible effect.
"Needs are much greater than availability at the moment," Agustin said. "If we could have a more robust programme supported by governments, that would help a lot." – Reuters


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Bubba Watson might just have the coolest gadget we’ve ever seen after he revealed his flying golf cart jetpack to the world – and it’s absolutely awesome.
We all know a round of golf can sometimes take bit longer than planned, with the time walking from hole to hole a pain the neck, particularly in bad weather.
But if you thought the quickest and most efficient way to travel round a course is by using an ordinary golf cart then think again, because Watson has unveiled the world’s first golf jetpack in a promotional video to celebrate the return of the sport to the Olympic Games in Rio next month.
As you can see from the clip above, the two-time Masters champion believes the futuristic device could be the answer to golfers’ prayers all over the world – and it even has space for a set of clubs and other equipment.
Whilst it looks incredible, there’s no sign of it being used in the Olympics, and we have absolutely no idea if or when it’ll be on sale to the public.
Still, pretty cool, eh? What do you think of it? And would you buy one?


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The kidnapping survivors organize the spectacular circus performances
Nepal is famous for its kidnapping business. Children are being kidnapped as well as sold by their poor families as they cannot provide for them. Later these children can end up in different places from the forced labor factories to the circus.
Thus, a few women that were sold at a very early age escaped from the horrible conditions they lived in to organize their own circus. The circus is a real attraction for both children and adults throughout Nepal. But the Circus Kathmandu is considered to be one of the most favorite.
As the girls they were treated very violently by the owners of the circus. They were beaten up and verbally abused. The Reuters claim that, nevertheless, these women learnt everything about circus and after gathering a few other women-survivors of the kidnapping started their own performances. The visitors are all amazed with their talents and scale of theatrics.
After some two weeks, Apple company will begin sales of the iPhone 7! Until now nothing really known about the cost of a new version of the famous tablet. Intrigue glow voiced earlier declarations of
The recent presentation of the new iPhone 7 divided all the Apple fans into two groups: one is excited about the new iPhone, another one is skeptical. Here is an important information about this
In October 2015 Tesla Motors showed the world its electric car Tesla Model S P85D. Creator of Elon Musk kept his word given to them at the beginning of the year. Sedan is now faster, now it's to
At least two unknown men attacked famous Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte during the show "Dancing with the Stars". According to Usatoday.com, two suspects of this case have already been arrested.
Ferdinand Porsche - the creator and father of acclaimed automotive brands. More than a century ago, the band released the first hybrid car, which gave a good start to the development of the company


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Yum! Brands’ Cheese Supplier Wins Top Diversity and Inclusion Award
May 17, 2018
Majority female-owned, Masters Gallery Foods took home its second Supplier Tracking Assessment and Recognition honor.
John Dick, senior purchasing manager, RSCS; Rick Hyde, senior director, RSCS; Artie Starrs, president, Pizza Hut US; Debi Mannchen, customer service director, Masters Gallery Foods; Sandy Toney, corporate quality & product development vice president, Masters Gallery Foods; Jeff Giffin, executive chairman, Masters Gallery Foods; Jim Jirschele, food service vice president, Masters Gallery Foods; Julie Felss Masino, president, Taco Bell US; Kevin Hochman, president & chief concept officer, KFC US; Steve McCormick, president & CEO, RSCS; Image provided by RSCS.
Masters Gallery Foods, one of Yum! Brands’ largest suppliers, recently won top honors at the 16th annual Supplier Tracking Assessment and Recognition Awards that’s hosted by Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions (RSCS), Yum!’s exclusive purchasing cooperative. The family-owned business, run by sisters Tracey Dorsey and Trina Stephens and their brother CEO Jeff Gentine, accepted the Diversity and Inclusion Award.
“We aspire to have suppliers that represent our customers, and they definitely do,” said Rick Hyde, senior director of food procurement at RSCS.
The Wisconsin-based company started its relationship with Yum! Brands in 2008, supplying mostly US-based restaurants with its three-cheese blend and cheddar cheese. Since then, Masters Gallery Foods has significantly grown its business with KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
And it’s not only been a successful partner with Yum!’s three iconic brands, it’s done so while making diversity and inclusion a priority.
“We’ve always hired the best person for the job. The women and minorities who work here have earned their positions based on merit and their time spent with the company,” said Gentine.
The Diversity and Inclusion Award represents a top honor of the event and was introduced three years ago as part of Yum! Brands’ larger inclusion strategy to live out its value “belief in ALL people.” Since then, Claxton Poultry and BAMA have also taken home the prize. Last year, Masters Gallery Foods won for Food Safety and Quality.


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- Square Enix sold its western arm to Embracer Group for $300 million in August last year to focus on blockchain games.
- The company partnered with Web3 gaming blockchain, Oasys, in September.
- Matsuda said in his new year’s letter that Square Enix has multiple blockchain games under development.
Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda is doubling down on the company’s commitments to Web3. In his new year’s letter published on Jan 1, Matsuda mentioned the word “blockchain” 14 times.
The gaming company’s push towards Web3 began in February last year when it partnered with The Sandbox to bring Dungeon Siege to the metaverse. Three months later, Square Enix sold its western arm and all the associated intellectual property rights to Embracer group for $300 million to focus on blockchain games.
Besides developing blockchain games, Square Enix has also been investing in them. In July, the company backed Bitcoin gaming infrastructure provider, Zebedee, in a $35 million funding round.
In the new year’s letter, Matsuda said that Square Enix is currently most focused on investing in blockchain entertainment while acknowledging the volatility in the crypto and NFT markets as well as the collapse of FTX.
However, he believes that events that negatively impacted the Web3 industry in 2022 would ultimately have been good for the growth of blockchain entertainment if it leads to regulation and transparency in the Web3 business environment.
Matsuda also mentioned that the Square Enix Group is developing multiple blockchain games based on original IPs, some of which were announced last year. In November, the company released a trailer of its first NFT game, Symbiogenesis, which received mixed reactions, especially from Web2 gaming communities known to resist traditional gaming companies’ moves towards GameFi. However, he remains undeterred.
“We are undertaking preparations that will enable us to unveil even more titles this year… Blockchain has been an object of exhilaration and a source of turmoil, but with that in the rearview mirror, we hope that blockchain games will transition to a new stage of growth in 2023,” Matsuda wrote in the new year’s letter.
While its blockchain games have yet to materialise, Square Enix has actively taken steps in that direction. In September, Square Enix partnered with Oasys Gaming to become a node operator of Oasys’s upcoming “environmentally friendly, proof of stake” blockchain.
The company joins a growing list of global video game makers that are exploring blockchain gaming including Bandai Namco Research, Sega, Ubisoft (which has a similar partnership with Tezos), Netmarble, WeMade, and Com2uS.
In July, the leading video game developer partnered with Enjin to create NFTs based on its popular game, Final Fantasy VII.
Matsuda said that the blockchain and NFT market was driven more by speculative investors than gamers through 2022. He added that content that was at the forefront was created based on the premise that blockchain and NFTs should result in monetization.
“However, in the wake of the aforementioned turbulence in the cryptocurrency industry, there is now a trend to view blockchain technology as a mere means to an end and to discuss what needs to happen to achieve the end of delivering new experiences and excitement to customers. I see this as a very beneficial development for the future growth of the industry,” he concluded.
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A New 1,000-HP Camaro Mod Plans to ‘Exorcise’ the Dodge Demon
It comes from Texas. We hear things are bigger there.
It’s about time somebody stood up and offered a little competition.
The team at Texas tuning house Hennessey just unveiled the deftly named “Exorcist,” a modded Chevy Camaro ZL1 that may just have enough muscle to keep the Demons at bay. And they mean business. The car’s got an additional 360 ponies, bumping the output up to 1,000 horsepower, along with a boosted torque of 1,310 Nm. That’s damn near the super-muscle status of a Bugatti Veyron.
Dodge (6 images)
The team has also fitted the ride with a new camshaft, long-tube stainless headers, a high-flow induction system and custom software. The rides will be sold at regular Chevy dealers, while existing ZL1 owners can snag the 1,000-pony upgrade for around $55,000. An automatic 10-speed transmission will run a buyer an extra $9,950.
“Equipped with rear drag radial tires, The Exorcist will deliver 0-60 mph times under 3 seconds while running the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds,” said company founder and president, John Hennessey. “However, The Exorcist is not just a quarter-mile racer. It’s a well-rounded super muscle car that is just as happy on a road course as it is on the dragstrip and street.”
But should it be that drag strip you’re gunning for, Hennessey will be offering a $8,995 drag package with 315/30 drag radial tires and a heartier driveshaft and tool kit. The road-race package with lightweight wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, meanwhile, will run you an extra $6,995.
Hennessey will produce just 100 of the beasts a year, and will deliver the car to their Lonestar Motorsports Park upon request.
Your move, Dodge.
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ASDA owner Wal-Mart suffered a blow yesterday when a US court ruled a sex-discrimination lawsuit against the retailer can proceed as a class-action case covering more than one million female employees.
Wal-Mart , the world’s largest retailer, had asked the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to undo class-action certification in what could be the largest sexual discrimination lawsuit in the nation’s history.
The lawsuit argues that female workers were paid less and received fewer promotions at Wal-Mart than male counterparts, and that the retailer’s corporate structure fostered this gender discrimination.
“It’s good day,” said Brad Seligman, an attorney for the plaintiffs.
City A.M. Reporter


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Grace Stocker of Cary left her job as an engineer when her second child was born. As a stay-at-home mom, she decided to launch a chocolate making business. Chocolat Grace, an online chocolate retailer that is only a year old, has already won international awards.
At the height of his fame, Mort Hurst ate 21 whole watermelons in 10 minutes. He gobbled 1,248 pistachios in half that time. He consumed 7.5 pounds of collard greens in front of a thousand screaming fans – a superstar of stomach-busting feats, until he suffered a stroke. Now at 68, he's training to stage his comeback.
Maggie Kane, executive director of A Place at the Table, describes how the nonprofit has found a permanent home in the former Cafe de los Muertos in downtown Raleigh. The new cafe will open in Fall 2017 and will let people pay or volunteer for their meals.
It took hammers, knives and a forklift, but the brewers at Bond Brothers Beer Co. eventually managed to get the agave they needed to make a new beer that's being released Wednesday at the Cary brewery, in partnership with Raleigh's Gallo Pelon mezcal bar.


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The Pokémon Company International has partnered with U.K.-based Insert Coin to launch a new apparel range at a Pokémon x Insert Coin pop-up shop in London later this month.
The new apparel range will feature Pokémon such as Magikarp, Snorlax, Jigglypuff, Charmander and Pikachu, among others, and will be available exclusively at the pop-up shop before launching online later this year. In addition to the new apparel range, the limited time store will also include memorabilia from the franchise’s 20-year history as well as live appearances from Pikachu.
The Pokémon x Insert Coin pop-up shop will be open in London from Aug. 25-30.
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Japan’s manufacturing sector decelerated in March but continued to expand, the latest survey from Markit Economics showed on Wednesday, with a PMI score of 50.3.
That’s down from 51.6 in February, although it remains barely above the boom-or-bust line of 50 that separates expansion from contraction.
The March reading also represents a 10-month low score.
“Latest data signaled a weaker improvement of operating conditions in the Japanese manufacturing sector. Manufacturers reduced their workforce numbers for the first time since September 2014 in March, albeit at a fractional rate,” said Markit economist Amy Brownbill.
Manufacturing production growth eased in March, having expanded in February at the quickest pace since before the higher sales tax was implemented in April 2014. The slowdown in output growth was underpinned by a contraction in total new orders in March, marking the end of a nine-month sequence of growth.
PMI data suggested that the recent fall in total new orders was mainly caused by poor domestic market conditions, as new export orders remained in positive growth territory for the ninth successive survey period in March. Several companies mentioned a favorable yen/dollar rate helping to improve price competitiveness.
Lower production requirements and weak demand conditions subsequently led manufacturers to shed workers for the first time since September 2014. Similarly, purchasing activity decreased in March, although at only a fractional pace.
As a consequence of the depreciation of the yen, cost pressures persisted in March, as companies reported steep hikes in imported raw material prices. However, input price inflation eased to the slowest rate since July 2013.
“New orders from abroad increased, with panellists mentioning a favourable yen/dollar rate helping to improve price competitiveness. However, cost pressures persisted, as purchasing prices rose amid reports of steep hikes in imported raw material costs,” Brownbill said.
The material has been provided by InstaForex Company – www.instaforex.com


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Rumors of a possible delay in the release of the next iPhones have been running for a long time due to the global pandemic. Of course with factories being closed this spring, and people confined home.
Apple supplier Hock Tan, CEO of Broadcom said on Thursday that revenue in the wireless sector will occur later. According to Reuters. Tan was forced to warn its shareholders of a possible delay in billing in the third quarter of this year. The company is a regular supplier to Apple supplying various types of chips, including Wi-Fi and LTE modems. The last contract signed is worth $15 billion.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, in April already predicted a delay of a month in the departure of the iPhone 12 due to the pandemic. Apple traditionally every year announces its new iPhones in the September keynote and release it in October.


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New ‘slide’ app is coming to the iPhone and Android
Sliding-board app Tiny Skiing is finally here on the iPhone with a big update.
It’s an app you’ll use to take a photo of your snowboard, add it to your camera roll and share it with your friends.
The app also has the potential to help people take better pictures of snow.
Story continues below advertisement The app is free to download on the Apple App Store.
Its first release was last summer.
But the app has seen a lot of development, with an iOS 10.1 update bringing a new user interface, a new camera, better performance and new features.
The app can also take photos of things like snowflakes, a snowboard’s rails and even the underside of your board.
You can take a picture of your face, but not a photo with your camera.
You can, however, take a selfie with the app, which is a bit of a rarity in the ski industry.
“We know it’s a big part of snowboarding,” said Alex Krasner, the founder of Tiny Ski.
“We’re excited about it.”
The app can’t show you how to do it.
You have to go to the app and find it.
And it takes a lot longer to get started than with other apps.
A new camera is coming for the iPhone, too, a newer version of which will be available later this year.
Tiny Ski’s new camera takes some of the pressure off the app to make it a fun and quick way to take photos.
The new camera also has a new interface, which allows users to snap selfies in their homes or at restaurants.
It’s an interesting move for Tiny Ski because the app isn’t quite as popular as other apps like SlideShare, SlideShare for iOS and the like.
But Tiny Ski is trying to change that.
“Our mission is to make skiing easier for everyone,” Mr. Krasener said.
“I don’t want to make snowboarding a one-trick pony.
I want to give you a way to be awesome and to enjoy the sport.
So I think we can achieve that.”
Tropical Storm Cindy has been a big hit for snowboarders in the U.S. The storm caused major power outages, which has slowed down the development of new products like the new Tiny Ski, which was first unveiled last week.
In Canada, Tiny Ski was launched in November.
Canada’s Ministry of Transport said it is currently accepting applications for the app.
Mr. Smith said that for most of his career, he and his colleagues used a video camera to take pictures of the snow and share them with their friends. “
And the next thing you know, I’ve got a GoPro on my helmet.”
Mr. Smith said that for most of his career, he and his colleagues used a video camera to take pictures of the snow and share them with their friends.
But he said he didn’t like that the camera was now taking pictures of his face.
“It was a weird experience to me,” Mr


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Volvo Autonomous Solutions (VAS) has opened an office in Fort Worth, Texas to establish its first autonomous freight corridors from Dallas to El Paso and Dallas to Houston.
VAS, a division of the Volvo Group, offers autonomous transport products which include hardware, software, and services.
To ensure a successful commercial launch, initial load hauling operations will use use trucks driven partly by people, not automation.
This testing phase will allow evaluation of various factors, establishment of operational framework plus ensure safety and reliability.
The trial is focused primarily on highways where autonomous trucks take over driving for long haul stretches between transfer hubs.
Human drivers will handle local operations.
VAS is working with logistics operators DHL and Uber Freight and has also joined with autonomous vehicle specialist Aurora to integrate its technology with the Volvo trucks.


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Up until a day before launching the original Apple Watch on April 24, 2015, Apple had been working closely with a woman named Belle Gibson. A blogger, iOS app developer, and rising health and wellness star in her native Australia, Gibson rose to fame in 2013 when she was, in her own words, just “a single mum who was diagnosed with brain cancer.” And instead of relying on traditional medicine, she attests, by turning to “whole food cooking and eating” Gibson was healed completely.
“She wanted to share what she had learnt but didn’t want to use a website or blog,” Gibson allegedly explained to Apple in an email at the time, a copy of which was obtained by The Age. “Belle decided she wanted to build an app for iPhone and iPad.”
And so she did. And according to court documents filed on behalf of those now seeking legal action against her, Mr. Gibson’s iOS app, The Whole Pantry, was then sponsored by Apple as one of its premier “health and fitness” apps of 2014 — in a move that generated over $500,000 in book deals, app revenue, and additional perks for the 20-year-old Gibson — all within just 18-months of her app going live in August, 2013.
Gibson’s is a fascinating story of overcoming obstacles, entrepreneurship, and using knowledge to benefit the greater good.. There’s just one problem, as authors Beau Donelly and Nick Toscano explain in their riveting tale of The Woman Who Fooled The World — it’s not even half true. As multiple Australian media reports would corroborate in the months that followed, Gibson’s story was actually fabricated from the ground-up.
What’s most interesting is that while highly-discrediting reports were tearing her story to smithereens, it wasn’t until the literal eleventh-hour that Apple finally acknowledged Gibson’s indiscretion and decided it was time to sever ties.
In fact, according to The Age’s report, Gibson and some of Apple’s senior-level staff had formed an extremely close relationship, oftentimes headlining their back and forth email correspondence with “Hello darling one” or “Lovely” or “Sweetest,” while signing off with kisses.
Emails as recent as March, 2015, reveal that even after her story began falling apart, Apple maintained an unwavering support for Gibson and commended her work on The Whole Pantry. Even when Gibson, herself, admitted in an interview with The Australian that she “may have been misdiagnosed,” one of Apple’s top, Australia-based PR managers, Ms. Jesse James, emailed her and allegedly signed off “Hope you’re feeling a bit better today lady,” according to the report.
Ultimately, Gibson’s con was exposed for what it’s worth — and during the week leading up to Apple Watch’s debut, The Age reports that “a flurry of panicked correspondence” was exchanged between the company’s senior PR teams in America and Australia, which culminated in the severing of ties with Gibson on the night before Apple Watch was to be announced.
By the following morning, all traces of The Whole Pantry had been removed from the App Store and from Apple’s online promotional materials, which originally featured Gibson and The Whole Pantry as an original Apple Watch app alongside Nike and Pinterest.
While Gibson was recently fined $410,000 on guilty charges of “deceptive and misleading conduct” by the Federal Court of Australia, Apple, for its part, clearly just wants to put it all behind them, and has repeatedly refused to speak publicly about Gibson in any capacity.
“In relation to your story,” said Apple’s director of communications, Fiona Martin, in response to an email from The Age seeking comment. “We have nothing further to add.”